OTRC: Megan Fox axed from 'Transformers 3' because of Hitler comment?

Despite the harsh remarks Megan Fox made against "Transformers" director Michael Bay, including referring to him as "Hitler," Bay reveals in a new interview that it wasn't him that suggested she get the ax.

"She was in a different world, on her BlackBerry," Bay said of Fox in an interview with GQ magazine. "You gotta stay focused. And you know, the Hitler thing. Steven [Spielberg] said, 'Fire her right now.'"

Legendary director Steven Spielberg served as an executive producer on both "Transformers" and its 2009 sequel "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." He's also an executive producer on the upcoming third film, "Transformers: Dark of the Moon."

Days after her interview was published, self-proclaimed "Transformers" crew members and writers posted messages on Bay's website, slamming Fox for her comments and calling her "ungracious." The posts were later removed.

Bay responded on his website on Sept. 12, 2009, saying: "I don't condone the crew letter to Megan. And I don't condone Megan's outlandish quotes. But her crazy quips are part of her crazy charm. The fact of the matter I still love working with her, and I know we still get along. I even expect more crazy quotes from her on "Transformers 3.'"

GQ reports that Megan Fox declined to comment to the magazine about the situation for the article. In May 2010, Fox said it was her decision not return for the third movie.

"I wasn't hurt, because I know that's just Megan. Megan loves to get a response. And she does it in kind of the wrong way," Bay told GQ about Fox's comments. "I'm sorry, Megan. I'm sorry I made you work twelve hours. I'm sorry that I'm making you show up on time. Movies are not always warm and fuzzy."

Fox's co-star, Shia LaBeouf, also commented about the remark to GQ saying, "Criticism is one thing. Then there's public name-calling, which turns into high school bashing. Which you can't do. She started [expletive]-talking our captain."

"Megan developed this Spice Girl strength, this woman-empowerment [stuff] that made her feel awkward about her involvement with Michael, who some people think is a very lascivious filmmaker, the way he films women," LaBeouf told the Los Angeles Times earlier this month. "Mike films women in a way that appeals to a 16-year-old sexuality. It's summer. It's Michael's style. And I think [Fox] never got comfortable with it."

"This is a girl who was taken from complete obscurity and placed in a sex-driven role in front of the whole world and told she was the sexiest woman in America," LaBeouf added. "And she had a hard time accepting it. When Mike would ask her to do specific things, there was no time for fluffy talk. We're on the run. And the one thing Mike lacks is tact. There's no time for [LaBeouf assumes a gentle voice] 'I would like you to just arch your back 70 degrees.'"

Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley was cast in Fox's place as the new female lead in the third "Transformers" film.

Ian Bryce, a producer on the "Transformers" series, tells the magazine that Whiteley "has done an enormously wonderful job for being a newcomer."

Bay added, "Rosie came in and she would say hello to the crew. She would acknowledge the crew. She'd say thank you."

Whiteley tells the magazine, "I was really grateful to everybody, from the people on the catering department to the camera boys to the producers to Shia."